Heathrow and Gatwick shortlisted for expansion

Expansion of Heathrow and Gatwick are the shortlisted options being considered by a government-backed commission into airport expansion. In its interim report, the commission also says a new airport will be needed in the South East by 2030.

Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith said he would not stand as a Conservative party candidate if David Cameron regaled on his "No ifs, no buts" earlier position on building another runway. Speaking to ITV News he said:

"If we go into the next election with a green light for Heathrow expansion, I would not able to stand as a Conservative."

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Of the three options for expansion presented by Heathrow Airport Ltd in the summer, the Airports Commission is only progressing one of them: the plans for a new runway to the north west of the existing airport.

The other Heathrow idea being investigated by the Commission comes from a pressure group called Heathrow Hub: the extension of one of the current runways.

The new runway would be the north west of the current airport, meaning it would have to go over the motorway. Credit: Heathrow Airport.

The new runway is further to the west - and anyone who knows this area will work out it brings the runway of Britain's busiest airport into conflict with Britain's busiest motorway, the M25. Look at the plan and you will see the runway is built over the top of the motorway.

That is not unusual. At Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, a motorway passes under one of the runways in a tunnel. But it does mean this option is not cheap.

Map showing the possible new flight paths from a new runway. Credit: Gatwick Area Conservation Group

The campaign group have drawn up a list of possible flight plans, should the project be given the go ahead.

The plans were made in consultation with air traffic control experts, as airports are currently not required to publish flight paths before the runways are built, Brendon Sewill, Chairman of the campaign said.

The plans were made in consultation with air traffic control experts, as airports are currently not required to publish flight paths before the runways are built, Mr Sewill said.

Mr Sewill said a new runway would mean an extra thirty thousand people would be afflicted with noise pollution, bringing the total across the area to 42,000. He said:

"We are not surprised as we always expected matter into focus, but we know we are in for a big battle.

"Howard Davies says we don't need a new runway until 2030 and the plans are not until 2040, but we need to fight like mad to stop a decision that will afflict the whole of Sussex, and much of Surrey and Kent.

"We are agree with national environmental organisations that any new runway anywhere is not compatible with the national enviromental policies.

"Also, the main concern about a new runway in Gatwick is that it would mean the inwards migration of a large number of people from the rest of UK, or from the EU with the need for 40,000 new houses, according to West Sussex County council."